I’m planning on running a half marathon in July. Running a marathon was never something of interest. Women who run marathons are not like me, I used to think. A completely different breed of woman. I filed them away under women who “camped in.” The same type of woman who carries a mountain bike over her shoulder as she navigates a tricky section of trail. Athletic women. Outdoorsy women. The kind in Athletica catalogues.

I’m a girl’s girl. I like to buy shoes, get my hair done. I try to keep my toes pedicured at all times. But something is happening to me. Last month, for example, I caught the end of the New York City Marathon. To my complete and utter shock, I was riveted. I mean, it’s just a bunch of people running, right? On another occasion I was watching Survivor. This particular season was shot in Nicaragua. One of the rewards was “volcano surfing“ down the side of an active volcano. Another was a zip line adventure over the jungle. I was jealous.

So maybe I’m not so different. Maybe I am one of THOSE women. Or maybe I’m a new breed – a modern day princess.

As a life coach one thing I know is I don’t have to fit into a neat and tidy package. I can run a half marathon and still sport gorgeously pedicured toes.

I can surf down an active volcano wearing a pink bow in my hair, if I want to.

4 Responses

I love how you’re following your feelings in making this choice. Instead of just saying, “I’m not that kind of girl”, you’re getting curious about what grabs you, even if it doesn’t seem to make perfect sense, and following those leads. Happy Training!

Endurance training, for me, made me a stronger person and coach because it is 90% mental. If you listen to/believe the thoughts running through your head when you are tired, you will probably give up before you meet your goals. It’s all about pushing the boundaries of what you thought was possible to achieve a major goal.

And when you cross that finish line?…Tears – I guarantee it. Because you realize that you are capable of SO MUCH MORE THAN YOU EVER KNEW. You realize that the sky is the limit and you live more in alignment with that.